Vladimir Micuda

Vladimir Micuda January 26,1926-September 20, 2005 Vladimir Micuda of State College, died Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at The Atrium, The Village at Penn State after a lengthy, courageous battle with brain cancer. Born January 26, 1926, in Sv, Ivan Zabno, Croatia, he was the son of the late Blaz and Dorotea Letoja Micuda. On July 20, 196, he married Martha Nauman, who survives at home. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Tom Micuda of Bloomington, Ind., and Adrienne Micuda, of Altamonte Springs. Florida, Also surviving are a niece, Nevenka Svec of Zagreb, Croatia, and a nephew Zeljko Taritas of Sv. Ivan Zabno, Croatia. He was preceded in death by a sister, Slavica Taritas of Brezovljani, Zabno, Croatia. After graduating from the University of Zagreb, Croatia in 1952 with a B.S. Degree in Forestry, and studying political science at the University of Graz, Austria in 1953 and forestry at The Agricultural University of Wageningen, 'Netherlands from 1955 to 1956, Mr. Micuda immigrated to the United States and became a U.S. citizen in 1962. Often he replied when asked, "I came to this country the unnatural way," In 1961, he received an M.A. in Library Science Degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, It was in Bloomington at library school where he met his wife-to-be of forty-two years. From 1977-1992, Mr. Micuda was head of the Science and Technology Department of the Penn State University Libraries. Under his administration were the Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences,Mathernatics, and Physical Sciences Libraries. Before retiring in 1992, he also served as Acting Assistant Dean, Head of the Reference and Instructional Services Division of the University Libraries from 1989-1990. In years prior to 1977, Mr. Micuda was Head of the Life Sciences Library at Penn State University (1974-1977), Head of the Agricultural and Biological Sciences Library at Penn State University (1966-1974), and an Associate Librarian at the A.R. Mann Library of Agriculture and Li fe Sciences and Human Ecology, Cornell University (1961-1966). With expertise in library management and organization of scientific libraries, particularly in areas of agriculture, forestry, and biological sciences, Mr. Micuda was most proud of his abilities in the area of" library collection development. He chaired and served on numerous Penn State University Libraries and university-wide committees. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Associates of the National Agricultural Library, the Board being comprised of former Secretaries of Agriculture, leaders of the nation's food industries and representatives of the land grant universities. His memberships included the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the United States Agricultural Information Network, and the Associates of the National Agricultural Library. He was a member of Beta Phi Mu. In the area of international librarianship, Mr. Micuda was a member in 1980 of the PSU Team for the Agricultural Development. Project at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka funded by the Agency for International Development. His assignment was development of the library -for the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture at this institution. In 1989 he served as a consultant on library services organization and training ofstaff on behalf of PSU and the Ministry ofAgriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Swaziland as part of PSU's Swaziland Cropping Systems Research and Extension Training. After retirement in 1992, Mr. Micuda continued his interest in the University Libraries and librarianship. An avid reader with wide interests in literature. languages, history, political science, and current affiairs, he also enjoyed gardening, landscaping, and growing trees and shrubs from seed. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church in State College and a devoted husband and father. At the request of the deceased, graveside services at Boalsburg Cemetery will be private. A mass honoring Mr. Micuda will be announced at a future date. A special thanks goes out from the family of Mr. Micuda to the staff atThe Atrium, The Village of Penn State. Their devoted care of Mr. Micuda and his family will never be forgotten. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60018 or the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Financial Management Branch Building 31, Room 8A34. 31 Center Drive, MSC 2540, Bethesda., MD 20892-2540.